social workers role in helping individuals with bullying behaviors to change
As multiple incidences of bullying continue to be reported in institutions of higher education, social work can play a critical role in managing the associated adverse impacts. Social work practitioners are highly skillful in evidence-based solutions to meet the needs of individuals, communities, and groups (Masilo, 2018). practitioners in this field can use casework to assist students or teachers in overcoming their problems that could be predisposing them to bully others. As already observed, the effects of being bullied may BE LONG-LASTING, thus making the victims themselves become bullies in the future. Through casework, a social worker can hold round table conversations with students bullying others individually to help them learn creative ways of avoiding such practices (Masilo, 2018). Therefore, social workers have a huge role in using approaches like casework to help individuals with bullying behaviors to change.
As agents of HELPING individuals suffering from social problems, social workers can respond to bullying in higher education by organizing support groups. As observed by Masilo (2018), these practitioners can use support groups to foster mutual aid to assist people in coping with stressful events by enhancing their coping capabilities. In the context of higher education, this approach may include bringing hope, encouraging creative coping techniques, and allowing victims to share strength-based ideas concerning their experiences.
Furthermore, the high preference for bullying in higher education presents an opportunity for more employment opportunities for social workers. Given the competition among universities to attract as many students as possible to sustain competitive advantage, they may be forced to invest heavily in hiring social work practitioners to manage bullying as well as the associated adverse effects effectively. Overall, social work professionals may find themselves as beneficiaries of bullying in higher education institutions by securing lucrative job offers.